The Centre for Global Sustainability Studies (CGSS), Universiti Sains Malaysia in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), Japan; International University, Vietnam National University (Vietnam); National University of Laos (NUOL) and University of Battambong (Royal University of Cambodia) conducted Disaster Risk Management for Sustainable Development (DRM-SD) Laboratory for three days in Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. We collated our resources to prepare a training curriculum to explain the DRM cycle in these four countries.
In this training, the participants use the DRM-cycle to suit the capacity needs of the target groups in each country, whether their primary focus is pre-event risk management or post-event disaster management. It brings together multiple stakeholders to explore ways to reduce the risk posed by climatic hazards before they become disasters resulting in loss and damage. The central focus of this unique training is personalised instruction and hands-on learning. In most situations involving climatic extremes (and other disasters in general) the starting point appears to be an unexpected event followed by a hastily put-together reaction plan for relief and rehabilitation, followed by a cooling-off period until the next disaster strikes.
In more prepared communities and countries, proactive measures such as anticipatory preparation and more robust recovery are the rule . If we could define risk more inclusively to cover both ‘rapid onset-high impact’ events such as floods and typhoons, and ‘slow onset-high impact’ events, such as climate change and poverty, we could move from an event-based to a process-based intervention strategy for disaster risk reduction/management (DRR/M). In such cases, vulnerable communities will become active participants rather than passive victims.
This training is unique in considering sustainable development (SD) in all the four major phases of the DRM loop – prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. The training is tailored to address closely the capacity needs of APN’s Climate Adaptation Framework and the outcome of the special APN workshop on CCA, DRR and L&D held in Kobe, 21–23 August 2013. The project is fully funded by the Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), Japan.
